It was a bright day in Ponyville, good enough for Rainbow Dash to go outside and soar in the blue skies, wind flowing through her mane and feeling adrenaline, as she spun and flew fast. Challenging herself, she went down a bit and did two barrel rolls, not noticing ponies looking at her in amazement, as she used her new flying stunts. As she did notice the attention, she thought, Gotta thank Soarin for teaching me those. she finally ended her show by landing near Sugarcube Corner, letting a soft 'thud' out.
She went inside, and saw an earth pony with a very light cerulean coat, and a light crimson mane and tail, which also has pale, light grayish crimson stripes on them. Mrs. Cake.
"Oh hi, dearie! What would you like?" Mrs. Cake asked, smiling softly, as she patiently waited for Rainbow to make her order. Rainbow Dash wore a smile and replied,
"I'll just have a cupcake. Nothing else."
"I see, hold on while I grab one." Mrs. Cake then went to the kitchen, leaving Dash on the counter. It only took a few seconds for Mrs. Cake to come back with a cupcake. Rainbow Dash placed some bits on the counter and took the cupcake with her hoof.
"Come back again sometime!" Mrs. Cake said, waving her hoof at the pegasus as she walked away. Dash was on the doorway, and looked back, waving at the earth pony. Once she was outside, she then spread her wings, and flapped them letting her go up in the sky. She looked at the cupcake on her hoof, and took a bite. What an awesome way, to start the day!
After she was done eating, she landed on a cloud, and sat. Staring at the sky, not that she liked gazing at it, and calling it beautiful. Nuh-uh, I'm way too cool for that. Rainbow thought, Okay, maybe I like looking at its beautiful sight. And I may enjoy looking at the sunset. I'm still cool either way. she heard laughing down below, and peaked her head to see three fillies laughing giddily. Well, not all of them were laughing giddily...
"Scootaloo?" Rainbow Dash whispered, her face then wore a confused look, as she saw her adoptive sister wear a frown and what seemed to be... laughing forcefully. Mixing with the giddy laughter her friends, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle made.
"Scootaloo? What's wrong?" Applebloom asked, looking at her friend.
"Huh? Oh, uh, nothing's wrong! Really! I'm just fine and dandy..." Scootaloo replied, and lowered her head, now gazing the ground. After a moment, her head raised back up, and planted the most unconvincing smile.
"Uh, Ah don't know... ya look like ya hadn't slept yesterday." Scootaloo, now realizing that, widened her eyes, and began stammering.
"Oh! Uh... right! I-I mean... really I-I'm fine! I just was... I mean, I was just... excited for today's lessons! Y-Yeah, just excited for today's lessons..."
Sweetie Belle then decided to join in, "But you never get excited for lessons."
"Yeah I do! I like flying lessons!"
"Of course! That's the only thing you like. You never get excited for others, especially math."
"What can I say, math is my greatest enemy."
"... You do know what today's subject is right?"
Scootaloo felt herself loosing, No! I can't! she thought, and had the courage to hiss.
"Math..."
Sweetie Belle beamed, and wore a victory smile on her face, proud of herself. She was about to say something, when Applebloom interrupted her, causing Sweetie Belle to pout in disappointment.
"Will you two stop bickerin'? We're in public, y'know."
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo glanced at each other, and sighed. They glanced back at their friend, and gave her smiles.
"Oh! Come on, guys! School's gonna start any minute now!" That was when the three fillies quickly galloped to the school, the same filly that forced a laugh was the last one who came at the doorway to their school.
Applebloom and Sweetie Belle didn't notice it, but Rainbow Dash sure did. She saw a frown on Scootaloo's face after her friends went inside.
"Just what is bothering her?"
Scootaloo had her head down, while heading to her seat. (No pun intended.) As she sat down to the chair, she then realized Miss Cheerilee still hasn't arrived, yet. Giving her time to work on her thoughts.
I can't believe she's gone... Scootaloo thought, Things will never be the same without her. She was the one who gave me a successful life, I-I can't believe... Scootaloo didn't even dared to finish that thought, as she felt a tear on her eye fall down to her desk due to her head down low. Staring at the woody object.
She brought her hoof to her face to wipe out the moist. She didn't even notice Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon coming towards her.
"Hey, are you all right?" Diamond Tiara asked, her face had curiosity and concern written all over. Scootaloo didn't even bother to look at her, but just simply said, "Yeah."
Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon exchanged glances at each other, Silver Spoon then replied, "Alright, then. We're just gonna go now... right?" Silver Spoon turned to look at her partner, it seemed that her best friend had her hoof on her face. Diamond tore the hoof away from it, revealing her flat expression. She then shook her head rapidly, deep in thought, and just stared out off nowhere.
Silver Spoon gave Scootaloo a sheepish smile, even though she could not see it. She then began to pull Diamond Tiara with her, leaving Scootaloo alone yet again.
What a terrible way, to start the day... Scootaloo thought, after a few moments, the school bell rang. Scootaloo raised her head, to find little fillies and colts ending their conversations and trotting back to their own seats. Cheerilee made her way inside the classroom and began greeting her fellow students.
"Good morning, Miss Cheerilee!" The students greeted back.
"Ugh, I guess it's time for Math..." Scootaloo whispered, lowering her head to let her face touch the desk.
Rainbow Dash didn't get it, why would Scootaloo be sad today? As she tried to think more about it, she was rudely interrupted by a pony shouting.
"Rainbow Dash! Get yer lazy flank right over here!" An all to familiar southern accent came running through Rainbow's ears. Making the prismatic pegasus scowl. She peaked out her head to see Applejack glaring at her.
"Okay, okay, sheesh, what's gotten you so grumpy."
"You know why!" Applejack yelled, as she pointed to a petrified Big Mac. As soon as Rainbow looked at him, she raised an eyebrow before looking back at the farm mare, and asked, "What happened to him?" Applejack's eyes widened, she then glared at Rainbow Dash. If looks could kill, Applejack would've turned Rainbow to ashes.
"Ya almost gave him a heart attack! Ya know how he is really afraid of those things! Don' act like ya did nothin'! You know you pranked him! Did ya know what you did to Applebloom?! " Applejack snapped.
Rainbow, now realizing her prank yesterday, moved her forelegs in front of her in defense. "Oh, come on, AJ! It was just–" She didn't have time to finish what she was about to say, as the farmpony charged towards her. Thinking fast, she zoomed out, looking at her back often as her best friend chased her. She was getting the hang of fleeing from the raging mare, she has been chased almost a hundred times.
I guess thinking about Scootaloo might be for later... darn. Rainbow Dash thought, narrowly missing a tree. She looked behind her back to see her friend smiling. Oh look, she's having fun. Rainbow chuckled, and looked back, she saw another obstacle. Her eyes widened, as she narrowly missed again.
"Get back here, ya featherbrain!" Applejack shouted, doubling her speed, making her smile turn into a grin.
"Sorry, but you gotta catch me first!" Rainbow Dash shouted back, also doubling her speed. Making her react faster to more obstacles. Rainbow Dash wore her own smile, as she felt the wind blowing all over her body. It's great to have a little exercise once and a while... Rainbow thought, It just feels so good, and awesome!
She changed her direction by going left, making Applejack lower her speed to follow.
"Ponyfeathers! Rainbow Dash get back here!" Applejack yelled, starting to gain more speed as she started catching up. She saw the speedster up on a hill, blowing a raspberry at her. Applejack smirk, seeing as how she was drawing nearer and nearer to the pegasus. Applejack saw her prismatic friend slowly advancing away from her.
"Oh no, you don't..." Applejack mumbled, and jumped to tackle her towards the ground. "Gotcha!" She said as the pegasus chuckled. Applejack got off of her, and lent her a helping hoof. Rainbow Dash grabbed it and began to stand up, smiling.
"Well played! You were really slow, for a hard-working pony." Dash said. She fell unto giggle fits, as she saw an unamused Applejack.
"Okay, okay, give me some credit will ya?"
Scootaloo opened her eyes to see... No, it can't be! M-Mom? She galloped towards her and hugged her tightly. Letting the mare look at her.
Tears escaped Scootaloo's eyes as she reunited with her mom. She sobbed and smiled. "M-Mom... is it really you?"
Her mom smiled at her and patted her at the back lightly. "Of course, Scootaloo. Of course I'm real, did you have another nightmare?" Scootaloo didn't respond, she just let herself enjoy the gentle pats her mom gave. They stayed like that for ten seconds, before Scootaloo let go of her. Revealing her soaked face, that had a smile.
"Scootaloo?" Her mom asked, though her voice slightly changed.
"Yes, mom?"
"Scootaloo?" Her mom once again asked, her voice changed even more.
"Mom? Are you okay?"
"Scootaloo!"
"U-Uh, what's happening, mom?"
"Scootaloo!"
Scootaloo was really confused, first she had a heartfelt moment with her mom. And next, this. Her mom repeating her name. She touched the mare on her hoof, but made no changes. She felt scared, she didn't know what was happening. It was then that her mom said her last word.
"SCOOTALOO!"
"Huh, wha?" Scootaloo opened her eyes again, to see an angry Cheerilee, and saw a few snickering colts and fillies. It was at that moment Scootaloo found out, that she slept. In the middle of class. She gave her teacher a sheepish smile, and rubbed the back of her head. Cheerilee put a hoof on her face, shaking her head. She placed it back down, and said.
"No sleeping in class, Scootaloo. Do you want detention? Did you at least listen to what I said?"
Scootaloo tensed up, sweating, and chuckled nervously. She hesitantly shook her head. And dragged a paper in front of her that said, 'Sorry?'. Her classmates giggled, before they all fell unto fits of laughter.
Cheerilee's expression softened, and gave a little chuckle of her own. "Just don't do that again next time, okay?" Scootaloo smiled, and nodded quickly.
As soon as Cheerilee walked back, Scootaloo looked at the blackboard.
Problem: An ice cream truck visits Jeannette's neighborhood every 4 days during the summer. Unfortunately, she missed it today. When can Jeannette expect the ice cream truck to visit her neighborhood again?
Solution: The ice cream truck will visit on days 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, ...
It read.
"Not, this..." Scootaloo complained, she slammed her head down to the table, but raised her head after impact. A wince was seen from her face as she rubbed it tenderly with her hoof. Saying 'Ow' silently.
Cheerilee smiled, and began lecturing. "In the problem above, we found multiples of the whole number four. The multiples of a whole number are found by taking the product of any counting number and that whole number. For example, to find the multiples of three, multiply three by one, three by two, three by three, and so on. To find the multiples of five, multiply five by one, five by two, five by three, and so on. The multiples are the products of these multiplications. Some examples of multiples can be found below. In each example, the counting numbers one through eight are used. However, the list of multiples for a whole number, is endless."
It was the end of class, Rainbow Dash sped to the school, and saw her honorary little sister riding her scooter. How could she forget about today's training session? Dash changed her destination, from the school, to the little filly.
Once in earshot, Dash called, "Scootaloo! Hey, Scootaloo!" She could visibly see her freeze. Scootaloo turned around slowly, and gave Dash a nervous smile.
"Y-Yes, Rainbow Dash?"
Rainbow Dash landed in front of the filly, and wore a concerned look. "You've, been kinda acting weird today. Anything wrong, kiddo?" She said, "I just came here to pick you up for today's training session. Did ya forget?"
Scootaloo wore a saddened look. Rainbow tilted her head, after a moment Scootaloo nodded slowly. What's going on in that noggin of hers? Rainbow thought, before she led the way to their training place.
"You ready?" Rainbow Dash said confidently.
"Yeah..."
She's even more weird now! Rainbow had enough, it was time to find out what's been bothering her. She looked at her little sister calmly, and asked. "What's been bothering you, squirt? You've been out of yourself lately. What happened to the Scootaloo who was hyperactive and cool everyday?"
"I... I'm fine." Scootaloo responded, looking away from her honorary sister. As much as she hated lying to her, she can't let her sister and idol know that she was being weak.
Rainbow Dash commented, "You are certainly not all right."
Scootaloo was taken aback by this, it was then at that moment, she snapped. "Well you would be if you're mom was dead!" Tears streamed her face as she cried and sobbed. She ran back to her scooter and zoomed out. Leaving Dash flabbergast.
"O-Oh... her... mom..." She found herself crying too as flashbacks of her beautiful mom and her playing and having fun on the park came running through her brain.
"I... I should've known what she was experiencing." Rainbow Dash said, "I gotta go find her, I'm her honorary sister for pete's sake! I should comfort her, let her know she's not the only one going through the feeling of having their... mom, dead." She wiped her face, and started flying.
Ponies saw her flying, when they noticed her eyes started to water. This was an uncommon site for Ponyvillians, seeing as though the young speedster doesn't just show up teary-eyed on the streets.
But Rainbow Dash didn't care of what they noticed. Right now, she's got a sister to take care of.
She saw Scootaloo going to the Everfree Forest, wasting no time, she quickly followed. She saw her little sister not too far away. "Almost there..." Dash chirped, and finally went past the little filly. She landed on the front, making Scootaloo try her best to stop her scooter from colliding with Rainbow Dash.
"What are you doing here?!" Scootaloo exclaimed, glaring at Rainbow.
"I... I came here to apologize." Dash slowly said, a sad expression was seen on her face.
"You have nothing to apologize—"
"Yes, I do. I-I should've known you are experiencing the kind of emotion I've always felt since, my mom passed away. I should've known it from the sight of your face back there." Rainbow interrupted. Scootaloo's eyes were wide open, and quickly asked questions.
"Your mom? She's dead? You've felt this way before?"
"Woah, slow down... but the answers to those are yes." Both of them didn't say anything else, until one moment they both gave each other a genuine smile, and hugged.
"I'm so sorry for not trusting you on this, Rainbow Dash."
"I'm sorry for not being such a responsible sister. Right now, I just wanted you to know, you're not alone." They heard a howl coming from the forest. Rainbow Dash's and Scootaloo's eyes were wide, as they gave one final glance at each other, Rainbow hovered, while Scootaloo got back on her scooter. They both zoomed away as they heard the howls more louder.
They were almost through the entrance, when three timberwolves got out from the bushes. Blocking their path.
Rainbow Dash said, "Grab your scooter, Scoots. We're going away." Scootaloo did what she was told, letting Dash grab her and fly to the sky.
"Hang on, there. We're flying!" Dash said, as she flew outside the forest, and landed letting Scootaloo down first. They both hugged again, letting go after a moment.
"Thank you so much for that, Rainbow Dash. I'm feeling much more hyperactive, and awesome right now!" Scootaloo exclaimed, "You're the best awesome big sister a filly could ask for."
Rainbow Dash blushed flattered from the complement. "It was nothing. I knew I had to do something to make you feel better. Now, how about we get back to our training session, eh?" Scootaloo giggled and nodded, as they both walked away sharing talks.
